In the Kitchen

Since spring is taking its sweet old time getting here I've been trying to keep busy in the house. That usually means I end up in the kitchen whipping up something or another. 

Yesterday, I will admit, I made the worst batch of cookies I've ever made before. (This does not include burnt batches.) Apparently my old ~lets just throw things in there~ way of cooking really doesn't work with baking. Sometimes it does, but sometimes it doesn't. They taste fine, but look funny. And since Zan has been eating them all up I'm assuming they aren't so bad.

The last time I went grocery shopping I picked up a couple very large bags of dry beans and over the past couple of days I have been canning them. I've always had a problem with buying dry beans and cooking them until they are soft enough. Then never seem to get cooked all the way when I cook with them. But they are great after canning. I had one jar that didn't seal and I tried the beans from there and they are nice and tender!! I'm very excited to have beans all ready to use when needed and not have to buy canned beans. 

I also made up another 8 pounds of baking mix. I use this mix for pancakes, waffles, muffins and coffee cake. It's so handy to have on hand and we have breakfast for dinner about once a week so this is a great easy ~and economical~ thing to have around.

I don't know if I mentioned this recently, but I'm currently in the process of building a big boy bed for Sam. He's in his toddler sized bed and growing out of it quickly. I have the headboard and foot board almost completed. I'll need to finish them this week and then get them stained and ready to be put together. They are coming along very nicely and I'll post pictures when I get them completed.

My plants are also growing nicely. 

The beans are now taller than the tomatoes. They have about one more month of growing until they will be planted. It will be interesting to see how big they get. I'm itching to get out in the garden, but it's been too cold. It's also supposed to snow tomorrow into Wednesday so this week is out. Bummer.

Well I'd better get back to my work. We've got house guests coming in a few days and I need to get the place spiffied up. Not to mention this room turned into a guest room. :) Ah, happy Monday.